Driving restriction guidelines for month of August

July 30th, updated information on border reopening for tourists and residents

Borders Reopen August 1st

Starting August 1st there will be a gradual reopening of tourism and international air travel.  Initially, only five flights per week will be allowed to enter departing from Canada, the EU (Schengen Area) and the UK and include flights from Frankfurt, Germany and Madrid, Spain.

The United States is not yet on the list of authorized countries for air travel, however the US Embassy has been working with airlines to take US citizens on repatriation flights.

Land borders remain closed until further notice.

Requirements When Traveling to Costa Rica

All passengers traveling to Costa Rica will be required to:

• Present negative Covid-19 test results received 48 hours before arrival
• Purchase insurance which covers accommodations in case of quarantine or hospitalization
• Fill out digital epidemiological forms

Residents No Longer Risk Losing Residency

The government also announced that starting August 1st, residents will be able to leave Costa Rica without losing their residency status as long as they travel by air and to and from the authorized countries.

Since the borders were closed on March 24th, the government announced that residents who left the country and tried to return, would lose their residency status. This included temporary and permanent residents and refugees. The Health Ministry is currently making the necessary changes to the decree which will be implemented as of August 1st. We will inform our readers of the specifics once they have been reported.

Tourist Visas and Immigration

Foreigners will not be allowed to enter Costa Rica until after current border restrictions are lifted. Tourists who entered the country after December 17th, 2019 have been granted an extension on their visa until November 18th, 2020. This extension also allows foreigners to drive legally and use a valid foreign driver's licenses until that date. Foreigners should carry their passport and driver's license with them while driving.

Good news on Covid 19; New Equine Treatment Developed by UCR Scientists

A new treatment developed by University of Costa Rica (UCR) scientists has passed another hurdle on the road to approval for treatment of Covid-19 patients. The UCR results were recently analyzed by George Mason University and it was determined that the treatment inhibits the spread of and neutralizes  the virus.

This new treatment was developed in horses and involves injecting the animals with coronavirus proteins  after which  their immune systems create  antibodies to  fight these proteins. The antibodies weaken the virus, not allowing it to infect other cells and replicate.  Antibody rich blood is extracted from the horses  and  then separated to be used to fight the virus.

Clinical trials will soon start between CCSS and UCR to determine whether this new treatment will slow the virus in human beings, lowering mortality, hospitalizations and debilitating  effects of the virus.

(Sources: CRhoy.com and La Nación)

Covid-19 Update July 28th

Covid-19 Update

Today July 28th, Costa Rica reported 503 new cases of Corona virus with a total of 16,344 confirmed cases. Currently, 3,920 people have recovered, 53 people are in ICU, and 125 total deaths have been reported.

Local Insurance Health Care Coverage for Covid-19

The Costa Rican Association of Private Insurers (AAP) announced that their members have temporarily nullified the pandemic exclusion that most international health policies include and will continue provide coverage to policyholders affected by covid-19. Members of AAP include Adisa, Assa, BMI, Mapfre, SM Seguros, Sagicor and Palig. 
INS, the National Insurance Institute, has full coverage for its clients and pandemic coverage has not been suspended. 

Borders Reopen August 1st

Starting August 1st there will be a gradual reopening of tourism and international air travel.  Initially, only five flights per week will be allowed to enter departing from Canada, the EU (Schengen Area) and the UK and include flights from Frankfurt, Germany and Madrid, Spain.
The United States is not yet on the list of authorized countries for air travel, however the US Embassy has been working with airlines to take US citizens on repatriation flights.
Land borders remain closed until further notice.

Requirements When Traveling to Costa Rica

All passengers traveling to Costa Rica will be required to:

• Present negative Covid-19 test results received 48 hours before arrival

• Purchase insurance which covers accommodations in case of quarantine or hospitalization

• Fill out digital epidemiological forms

Residents No Longer Risk Losing Residency

The government also announced that starting August 1st, residents will be able to leave Costa Rica without losing their residency status as long as they travel by air and to and from the authorized countries.
Since the borders were closed on March 24th, the government announced that residents who left the country and tried to return, would lose their residency status. This included temporary and permanent residents and refugees. The Health Ministry is currently making the necessary changes to the decree which will be implemented as of August 1st. We will inform our readers of the specifics once they have been reported.

Safe Destination Status by WTTC

The Minister of Tourism announced that Costa Rica has received the Stamp of Safe Destination to travel during COVID issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council. He also announced the launching of a new program promoting safe and responsible services in the tourism sector. Promotions can be found at www.vamosaturistear.com.

Tourist Visas and Immigration

Foreigners will not be allowed to enter Costa Rica until after current border restrictions are lifted. Tourists who entered the country after December 17th, 2019 have been granted an extension on their visa until November 18th, 2020. This extension also allows foreigners to drive legally and use a valid foreign driver's licenses until that date. Foreigners should carry their passport and driver's license with them while driving.

Current Health and traffic restrictions

• Food delivery services are allowed to operate
• Public transportation has resumed normal operations nationwide 
• All bars and nightclubs remain closed.  

The current driving restrictions based on the last number of the license plate will be in place through Friday, July 31st, 2020. On the weekend, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers can circulate on Saturday and those ending in even numbers can circulate on Sunday.

Residents no longer risk losing residency after leaving Costa Rica

This week the Costa Rican government announced that as of August 1st, 2020, once some flight routes have been reopened, residents will now be able to  leave Costa Rica without risking losing their  residency status. Residents will not risk losing their immigration status  as long as they travel by air and to and from authorized  countries which include Canada, the United Kingdom and Schengen Area countries of the EU. 

Since the borders were closed on March 24th, the government announced that residents who left the country and tried to return, would lose their residency status. This included temporary and permanent residents and refugees and was in accordance to decree 42256-MGP-S. The Health Ministry is currently making the necessary changes to the decree which will be implemented as of August 1st.

Covid-19 Update. border reopening, traffic restrictions and immigration information

Covid 19 Update

As of July 24th, Costa Rica reported 540 new cases of Corona virus with a total of 13,669 confirmed cases. Currently, 3,505 people have recovered, 298 are hospitalized, 49 are in ICU, and a total of 87 deaths have been reported.

Borders Reopen August 1st

The government has announced that international air travel to Costa Rica will resume on August 1^st.  (The land borders with Panama and Nicaragua remain closed. )

Flights from the following countries and regions will be permitted to resume after that date:

• European Union
• United Kingdom
• Canada

(The United States was not included on the list and there is still no date when passenger flights will resume.)

All passengers traveling to Costa Rica will be required to:

• Present negative Covid-19 test results done within 48 hours of travel
• Purchase insurance which covers accommodations in case of quarantine or hospitalization
• Fill out digital epidemiological forms

Safe Destination Status by WTTC

The Minister of Tourism announced that Costa Rica has received the Stamp of Safe Destination to travel during COVID issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council

Tourist Visas and Immigration

Tourists who entered the country after December 17th, 2019 have been granted an extension on their visa until November 18th, 2020. This extension also allows foreigners to drive legally and use a valid foreign drivers licenses until that date.

Health and traffic restrictions

The current restrictions we have reported will be in place through July 31st, 2020. The country is still divided into orange and yellow alert regions.

• Orange Alert Regions 

Vehicles can only circulate from 5 AM to 5 PM seven days a week. These regions are currently in phase two.

• Yellow Alert Regions

Vehicles can circulate Monday through Friday from 5 AM to 10 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 5 AM to 7 PM. These regions are currently in phase three.

Beaches in the yellow regions, will be allowed to be open from 5 AM to 230 PM after August 1st. There will also be a gradual reopening of businesses in the tourism sector after August 1st and open air tourism activities will be allowed in these areas, as long as sanitary precautions are taken.

(Information for this bulletin was referenced from La Nación, the US Embassy alerts, the Ministerio de Salud, and the Minsterio de la Presidencia.)

Covid 19 Case Information July 2020

Coronavirus cases  Costa Rica
Date 2020	Confirmed total number	Total new	Active	Recovered	Hospitalizations	ICU	Total deaths
15-Jul	8,986	504			188	31	40
16-Jul	9,546	560	6831	2673	207	35	42
17-Jul	9,969	423		2818	211	38	47
18-Jul	10,551	582		2992	225	41	54
19-Jul	11,114	563		2966	241	44	62
20-Jul	11,534	420	8449	3019	259	47	66
21 juk	11,811	277		3194	272	49	68
22-Jul	12,361.00	550		3322	285	50	71

Covid-19 Antibody treatment from Clodomiro Picado Research Institute

The Costa Rican Clodomiro Picado Research Institute  announced this week that they have created two initial lots of Covid-19 antibody treatment to be utilized on the most critically ill patients.  According to the institute, the treatment involves the extraction of  equine immunoglobulins  in the plasma process and resulted in the first batch of 1,000 vials.

Costa Rican scientists will begin the quality control phase of the treatment to make certain that the serum is safe for patients before sending it to CCSS (Social Security). They also sent samples to George Mason University, in the United States to test its effectiveness.

In the next phase of the testing process, the treatment will be sent to the CCSS where the clinical results will be studied.

(Source AM Costa Rica and La Nacion) 

Homologacion de Licencias de Conducir

MOPT/COSEVI in Costa Rica have announced that as of last month, what they call the "homologacion de licencias" can only be coordinated by coordinating an appointment with Educación Vial in advance.

This term "Homologacion de Licencias" refers to the issuance of a Costa Rican driver's license equivalent to the license held by an individual from a foreign country.

Pre-Covid 19, one could walk in to COSEVI  with a medical exam (dictamen medico), a valid international driver's license, pay the fee,  wait in line, and walk away with a new license. However now this must be arranged ahead of time through the Educacion Vial site and at the following link

https://servicios.educacionvial.go.cr/Formularios/SolicitarCitaTramite

If you are a resident with a DIMEX card and have a valid and current driver's licence from your home country, you can an arrange the appointment to get a Costa Rican driver's license by visiting this site and choosing the day and time you would like to make the appointment.

Covid 19 Update July 20th 2020

Covid 19 Case Update

As of July 20th, Costa Rica reported 420 new cases of Corona virus with a total of 11,534 confirmed cases. Currently, 3,019 people have recovered, 259 are hospitalized, 47 are in ICU, and a total of 66 deaths have been reported.

The new health and traffic restrictions  will be in effect from now until July 31st, 2020.

The country is still divided into areas categorized under orange and yellow alert.

From July 20th through July 31st the following driving  restrictions are in place throughout the entire country.

• Mondays..…....license plates ending in 1 & 2 restricted
• Tuesdays…......license plates ending in 3 & 4 restricted
• Wednesdays… license plates ending in 5 & 6 restricted
• Thursdays…....license plates ending in 7 & 8 restricted
• Fridays….........license plates ending in 9 & 0 restricted

On the weekend, vehicles with license plates ending in:

·        ODD numbers can circulate on Saturdays

·        EVEN numbers can circulate on Sundays

Orange Alert Regions from July 20th to July 31st

Vehicles can only circulate from 5 AM to 5 PM.

Yellow Alert Regions from July 20th to July 31st

Vehicles can circulate Monday through Friday from 5 AM to 10 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 5 AM to 7 PM. All areas under “Yellow Alert” remain in Phase 3. In these areas, most businesses can operate seven days a week, religious ceremonies are permitted, and beaches are open from 5-9:30 AM daily. 

Fines and Sanctions

There are high fines for people violating the sanitary and traffic restrictions. Violating a quarantine order carries a fine of approximately $800 and even possible jail time. Violating traffic restrictions can result in the seizure of vehicles and plates and is accompanied by hefty fines.

Seized vehicles and plates

COSEVI, the government entity in charge of returning seized plates and vehicles, has been closed this week and may be closed into next week. This means additional delays in returning plates and vehicles can be expected. To reschedule appointments with COSEVI you can write plat-serviciosj@csv.go.cr or call 2522-0815.

RTV Inspection Extension

The government also announced that owners of vehicles with plates ending in 7 and 8 will have an additional one month grace period to renew their annual RTV inspection renewed. This means that vehicles with plates ending in 7 will have until August 31st and those ending in 8 will have until September 30th to renew. For appointments go to www.rtv.co.cr.

 

Border, Immigration and Visa Information

Tourists who entered the country after December 17th, 2019 have been granted an extension on their visa until November 18th, 2020. This extension also allows foreigners to drive legally and use their foreign drivers licenses until that date, as long as the license is not expired.

Borders are scheduled to reopen on August 1st, 2020. Once borders reopen, only  foreigners from countries with controlled spread of the virus will be allowed to enter. There is no current date for reopening the northern and southern land borders.

New RTV extensions for plates ending in 7 and 8

The Costa Rican government announced that due to the country wide lock down last week, they will be providing a one month grace period for the RTV inspection of all vehicles with license plates ending in the number 7 and 8.

This means that plates ending in 7, and which  are generally due for their RTV re-inspection by July 31st, will now have the entire month of August to renew their inspection until 2021.

Additionally,  all plates ending in 8 will have until September 30th to renew their inspection which will be good through the end of August 2021.